Becoming a parent means learning how to manage your time, become more efficient, and essentially do things as fast as you possibly can. (With only one hand.) It's difficult, but sometimes it's the only way to make something happen, especially if your baby is getting cranky. Fast diaper changes and Olympic speed bottle-making are things every parent is familiar with, but that latter one can make you panic, especially if you're wondering what is the fastest way to defrost breast milk.
Whether your partner is at home with the baby and just realized there wasn't any breast milk in the fridge or you're running late and need a bottle of breast milk for daycare, knowing the quickest way to defrost your liquid gold is a must for any busy mom.
Luckily, it's a pretty simple trick. According to Parents, if you're in a hurry and need a bottle of thawed breast milk quickly, just pop it out of the freezer and hold it under warm running water until it's thawed. Of course, you'll need to use it pretty soon after, like within 24 hours, and you can't re-freeze it, but it will be good to go in a timely manner.
Sounds pretty simple, right? It is. But many moms think the microwave is the place to heat something up quickly, whether it's a bowl of soup or a bottle of breast milk. Medela noted that the microwave is not a safe place to thaw breast milk as it not only leaves hot spots that could scald your baby, but it can also cause vitamin and mineral loss in your milk.
If you're not in a hurry, Stanford Children's Health recommended putting frozen breast milk into the fridge overnight as the best way to thaw a bottle or two for your little one. However, if you're like me and lose all semblance of a brain by 8 p.m., then you can safely rely on thawing your baby's milk quickly under warm running water.
